About Jemma
‘Las Vagus Curaciones Music Studio’
Music is like learning a new language.
There is something special that music can give us in our life.
“In music and the arts, we enter a sphere where self-expression can exist, where motif can be explored, where narratives can be re-written, where senses can be calmed, where the aesthetic of high arts can be historically placed and appreciated. Music is a place we can go to dance, to connect, to learn, to be motivated and to chill out.” - Jemma’s words.
Jemma began learning, writing music and singing in choirs and doing musical theatre as a child. It was not until graduating from high school, that her pursuits in artistic pathways could be more fully realised.
Jemma successfully auditioned and attended art school after winning a National award for painting completed at age 17. In the same year, Jemma co-wrote and was a lead actor for a National award winning play. During art school, Jemma took subjects at the Ballarat Academy of Arts learning with some of Australia’s best. At this time, Jemma taught Piano at an arts collective and successfully auditioned for a place in a Dance Factory course in Melbourne.
In Melbourne, Jemma attended Estill Voice Technique practitioner training with Helen Tiller and at the end of the training, performed in a masterclass. Jemma sought out singing tuition from acclaimed singers turned tutors in Melbourne and Daylesford. This prompted a successful audition for ‘Actor’s Studio’ at the National Theatre - a year long course. At the final graduation performance Jemma received encouraging testimonials both from her tutor and a tutor from the Victorian College of the Arts.
Back in art school, Jemma had dabbled in a band with friends as the lead singer and flutist playing Irish, Celtic and Folk music. She began to write more music and started playing gigs at wine bars and cafes locally, writing a lot during this time. A music recording studio was found based on what the budget would allow and a 4 track Indie EP ‘Movie Called Life’ was cut. It got radio airplay and Jemma was interviewed on a few outer-Melbourne radio stations.
‘The Jemma Michael band’ played in the Yarra Valley region, at regional family events and charities with Jemma then moving into radio co-hosting and production for community radio, co-writing the scripts for a program supporting up and coming young artists. Jemma did some professional work in front of the camera and as a production assistant in the Film/TV industry. In 2008, Jemma put together a show to raise money for flood affected farmers called, ‘Singer on Horseback spectacular’. It got a write up in a magazine.
Jemma returned to University to study teaching and subsequently completed an Honours Degree in Education with Monash University and was awarded The Silver Jubilee Monash Honours Scholarship (only one student in the entire Education Faculty was awarded this). Subjects addressed included music research, gifted education, arts education and creativity. Jemma presented her Honours thesis abstract at the Monash Education Research Community before continuing teaching and being a mum to a young toddler.
Jemma returned to vocal and piano coaching at local private and Catholic schools. Before long, she had filled up lesson spaces. Jemma had a stable of private music students (children and adults) outside of the school system and coached several people with sights set on performing. A full-time teaching contract became available so the music tuition paused. Noosa and the warm weather called in 2019 and the family move was made from Victoria to Queensland.
Study called yet again, returning to study whilst full-time teaching, Jemma elected to do a Masters in Counselling at Monash University. Jemma was invited to speak at the 2024 Animal Therapies Ltd conference in Brisbane and in 2025 was accepted into two select entry State Wide Leadership programs for women leading onto many connections in in business, politics, medicine, psychology, holistic therapies, owners of major companies, film producers, keynote speakers and esteemed lecturers.
Happily returning to writing and playing live music in QLD, Jemma returned to piano and voice tuition in 2025. Jemma teaches from two purpose built studios in Noosa and Cooroy. Alongside being a certified registered counsellor, Jemma facilitates therapeutic music circles focused on mindfulness and relaxation, sound immersion and is known for improvising and writing songs in front of audiences.
Jemma has drawn from music and the arts in the long-term playing at exciting venues and working alongside well-known musicians and producers. Some 20 years ago, Jemma wrote a pilot program for disengaged young people utilising the arts (music, art, drama) and successfully trialled this in schools with the support of a National NFP.
Jemma Elle Michael
MCouns, Bed (Hons), Grad Dip Ed (Sec)
BVA (Fine Arts) DipEquine Psych
Cert IV Small Bus, NLP, Reiki